Outstanding mare Frith appears to have made a smooth transfer to the Belinda McCarthy stable.
Trained to win a host of feature events by astute horseman Bruce Harpley, Frith joined McCarthy’s team following her victory at Menangle a fortnight ago.
Harpley made the tough decision to send Frith to champion New Zealand mentor Mark Purdon, with the daughter of Four Starzz Shark staying with McCarthy during the interim as she embarks on a Victoria campaign.
Making her debut for McCarthy at Tabcorp Park Melton last night, Frith registered an effortless triumph in The Make Mine Cullen.
Driven by McCarthy’s husband, Frith led throughout to score by four metres from Just Cala, with The Good Times a metre away third.
“She has always been a high class mare and came to us in terrific shape,” McCarthy said. “Bruce did a wonderful job with her and hopefully we can keep her at that high level.
“She just did it so easily and was never out of second gear.”
Covering the last half in a brilliant 55.2 seconds, the five-year-old rated 1:55.3 for the 1720 metres, taking her record to 33 wins and eight placings from 45 starts for earnings of $883,245.
Frith will return to the home of Victorian harness racing next Friday night for the Angelique Cup, followed by the Queen Of The Pacific in a fortnight.
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PAUL COURTS